Closing 2026, Building Momentum for 2027

November 2, 2026

And this year, we have something particularly significant to celebrate.

For the first time in MAAC's history, every zone has conducted its AZM voting processes through MAAC.ca!

Following our first Annual General Meeting and now a complete season of Annual Zone Meetings using the platform, we have taken another meaningful step toward modernizing our association.

With these voting processes now successfully integrated into MAAC.ca, we will be discontinuing our SurveyMonkey subscription.

This is about much more than replacing one software platform with another. It reflects our continued commitment to making MAAC more efficient, accessible, consistent, transparent, and easier to manage for both members and volunteers.

This is MAAC 2.0 in action.

What's Next for MAAC.ca?

Over the coming months, we will continue expanding the digital capabilities of MAAC.ca to support additional governance and administrative processes, including:

  • Submission and management of resolutions
  • Recommendations
  • Candidate nominations
  • Award nominations
  • Other governance requests and submissions

Our objective is straightforward: to move toward a fully digital process, from initial submission through final consideration, wherever practical.

By reducing manual handling and transcription, we can minimize errors, prevent misunderstandings, improve consistency, and simplify the work of everyone involved.

There is still work ahead, but we are making steady and meaningful progress.

I look forward to sharing more updates as these improvements are developed and introduced.

Meet Your 2027 Zone Leadership Teams

With the 2026 AZM season now complete, we have a clearer picture of the volunteers who will represent and support our members and clubs across Canada in 2027.

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating our Zone Directors, Deputy Zone Directors, and Zone Assistants.

Their willingness to contribute their time, experience, and energy is essential to MAAC's continued success.

An asterisk () identifies a new Zone Director.*

Zone

Zone Director

Deputy Director

Zone Assistants

A

*Ian Griffiths

John Horner

Brad Cleland, Ron Hall

B

Vacant

Vacant

Sandy McInnis, Stephen Benson, Terry Bullerwell, Paul Colbourne

C

Robert Davidson

Vacant

Mark Betuzzi

D

Dean Mostow

Rob Patterson

Thomas Skoropad

E

Carl Cimprich

Roy Rimer

Andrew Fakla, Adam Picard, Paul Brine, William (Bill) Teeter

F

Craig Knight

Andrew Coholic

Lee Prevost, Robert Zentai, Rob Tanguay, Troy Goodberry

G

*Madeleine Grice

John Weekes

Karl R. Kingston, Michael Anderson

H

*Steve Whiteside

Tim Horsfall

Keith Bennett, Paul Dries, William Rollins

K

Shelley Folbar

Grant Robinson

—

L

Rudie Nagelmakers

Vacant

Adam Maas

M

Peter Doupnik

Robert Bennett

Ulf Bergquist, Frank Klenk

N

Stéphane Giguère

Jean-Paul Le Guilcher

Richard Gareau, Éric de Tilly, Stéphanie Beaulieu, Jean-Guy Ouellet, Marie-Reine Daudelin Malczewski, Denis Simard

To every volunteer stepping forward for 2027, thank you.

Your commitment makes a real difference to our members, our clubs, and the future of Canadian aeromodelling.

Zone B – An Opportunity to Step Forward

As you may have noticed, Zone B (Atlantic) remains without a Zone Director or Deputy Zone Director.

We have reached out to members and clubs, inviting nominations and encouraging volunteers to consider these important positions. Unfortunately, we have not yet identified individuals available to take on either role.

However, I remain confident that our Atlantic aeromodelling community has the experience, dedication, and leadership needed to fill these positions.

We already have committed Zone Assistants who continue to support members and clubs. What we need now is someone willing to bring those efforts together and represent the zone at the national level.

If you have ever considered becoming more involved with MAAC, this may be your opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.

Please do not hesitate to reach out. We would be pleased to discuss the responsibilities involved, the expected time commitment, and the support available.

Leadership within MAAC is not about doing everything yourself. It is about working with others who share the same passion for our hobby.

A Special Recognition – Thank You, Mike Anderson!

I cannot close this chapter without recognizing the extraordinary dedication of our MAAC Secretary and Governance Advisory Group Chair, Michael Anderson.

Throughout 2026, Mike has invested an enormous amount of time and energy into improving our governance processes and helping ensure the successful implementation of our digital AGM and AZM procedures.

And when I say enormous, I truly mean it.

There have been days when his work began around 5:00 a.m. and continued well into the evening.

Beyond helping develop, refine, and support these new processes, Mike has also assisted with every online Annual Zone Meeting.

Think about that for a moment.

Every meeting. Every zone. Every process. Countless hours of preparation, coordination, troubleshooting, and support.

Much of this work happens quietly, behind the scenes, where members rarely see the effort involved.

But its impact is felt throughout our association.

Mike, your dedication, patience, attention to detail, and commitment to strengthening MAAC governance have made a tremendous difference.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and our members, thank you, Mike!

And to everyone reading this message, if you have the opportunity, please take a moment to send Mike a word of appreciation. He has certainly earned it.

The Next Chapter – Preparing MAAC for 2027

Although our Annual Zone Meetings have concluded, the work of the Board of Directors is far from finished.

In fact, November will be another very active month.

The Board must now complete several important governance and planning responsibilities to ensure that MAAC is ready for the coming year.

These include:

  • Electing the MAAC President
  • Electing the MAAC Vice-President
  • Electing three additional Executive members
  • Selecting three members of the DART disciplinary team
  • Reviewing and approving the 2027 operating budget
  • Reviewing award nominations submitted through the AZMs
  • Reviewing resolutions submitted through the AZMs
  • Reviewing Advisory Group memberships and Chair appointments
  • Assigning Board representatives to the Advisory Groups

These responsibilities are essential to establishing MAAC's leadership, priorities, and organizational structure for the coming year.

A closed Board meeting is planned for mid-November to review preparations and nominations.

This will be followed by a longer meeting, expected to last approximately three hours, during the final weekend of November to finalize the necessary appointments and decisions.

Our goal is to have the required leadership and organizational arrangements in place by December 1, 2026, allowing us to move forward with our preparations for 2027 without delay.

Moving Forward Together

When I look back at everything accomplished throughout 2026, I see an association that continues to evolve, improve, and move forward.

We are modernizing our systems, strengthening our governance processes, supporting our clubs, and preparing for the future of aeromodelling in Canada.

Of course, challenges remain. There will always be work to do.

But progress is not measured only by the challenges we overcome.

It is also measured by the people who step forward, the improvements we make, the lessons we learn, and our willingness to keep building something better.

To our outgoing and incoming Zone Directors, Deputy Directors, Zone Assistants, committee members, Advisory Group volunteers, and everyone who has contributed throughout the year: thank you for your dedication, commitment, and passion.

Together, we are building a stronger, more connected, and more effective MAAC.

This is what MAAC 2.0 is all about.

December 1 will mark the beginning of our next chapter as we prepare to give 2027 a strong start.

And I am genuinely looking forward to what we can accomplish together.

Let's keep flying forward, with passion and purpose.

Alain Carpentier
President, MAAC